Politics

PM has assured Lokpal will come soon: Kiran Bedi

New Delhi, Jan 23 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that Lokpal will come soon. However, she evaded a question about activist Anna Hazare's statement that he was capable of fighting for the Lokpal Bill alone. According to media reports, the anti-corruption activist has said he is capable of fighting alone for the future agitations on Lokpal and will hit the roads after the Delhi elections.

Jan 23, 2015

Kumar Vishwas allegation that Kiran Bedi sympathized with BJP during IAC draws reactions

New Delhi/ Ghaziabad, Jan 23 (ANI): AAP leader Kumar Vishwas has alleged that BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi was always a BJP sympathizer, even during the IAC movement. BJP leaders Nalin Kohli and Siddharth Nath Singh said that AAP is coming up with new blames and allegations every other day since BJP named Bedi as the CM candidate. Congress leader Manish Tewari said that Kiran Bedi had used IAC movement to gain public attention as her real motive was to join a political party. Meanwhile, AAP leader Kumar Vishwas stayed true to his statement saying that Kiran Bedi had always made sure that BJP’s corruption was not highlighted.

Jan 23, 2015

BJP says confident of winning Bihar as Amit Shah sets ambitious 'Mission 185'

New Delhi, Jan 23 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah is on a two-day visit to Bihar, his first since assuming office in July last year. Gearing up for the Bihar Assembly elections due in 2015, the BJP on Friday expressed confidence and said people will vote for them in the upcoming elections scheduled for later this year. Shah has set an ambitious target of winning 185 seats in the high-priority state, where it had won 31 out of 40 seats in the last Lok Sabha polls.

Jan 23, 2015

Two killed, at least 14 injured in Bomb explosion at Arrah civil court in Bihar

Arrah, Jan 23 (ANI): Two persons, including a woman, have been killed in a bomb explosion in a civil court in Arrah district of Bihar on Friday. The police said a woman was carrying the bomb and was killed when it exploded. A policeman also died. At least 14 people have been injured. The deceased was yet to be identified as more details about the incident are awaited. There is a nationwide security alert ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to India which begins on Sunday.

Jan 23, 2015

South Asia Newsline - Jan 22, 2015

South Asia Newsline - Jan 22, 2015

Jan 23, 2015

US, Iraq to Push to Recapture Mosul from ISIS; Kurds Reclaim Key Areas

'It will likely take two years to push ISIS out of Iraq'.

Jan 23, 2015

Padma Awards 2015: Will Saffron be Colour of the Day?

Yoga guru Ramdev and BJP leader LK Advani feature in the list of names for this year's Padma awardees.

Jan 23, 2015

Snowfall in Kashmir intensifies cold wave

Udhampur/ Dharamsala, Jan 23 (ANI): Tourists thronged Jammu and Kashmir and experienced snowfall, which intensified cold wave in northern parts of the country. People from the plains flocked Udhampur district to enjoy fresh snowfall as temperatures reached minus two degree Celsius. The mountainside was covered with a blanket of snow, speckled by the visitors who were seen having snowball fights. Meanwhile, rainfall in hill town of Dharamsala plummeted temperatures, forcing people to stay indoors. Located in the tropics, most of India witnesses a very hot summer and a largely temperate winter. Snowfall in states like Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh has a direct impact in other northern states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Jan 23, 2015

PM Modi remembers Balasaheb Thackeray on his birth anniversary

Mumbai, Jan 23 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday remembered Shiv Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray on his birth anniversary. Prime Minister Modi took to twitter to remember him. "Remembering Balasaheb Thackeray on his birth anniversary. His was a life dedicated towards people's welfare. He lives on in our hearts," PM Modi tweeted. Meanwhile, Shivaji Park in Mumbai is decorated to remember the late leader. The Shiv Sena has planned a slew of functions across the state today to mark the birth anniversary of the late Balasaheb Thackeray.

Jan 23, 2015

President Mukherjee and PM Modi condoles passing away of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah

New Delhi, Jan 23 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the passing away of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah. In his condolence message on Twitter, President Mukherjee said, "Heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Saudi Arabia over the sad demise of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. In King Abdullah's passing, Saudi Arabia had lost a beloved leader, India a close friend and world, an elder statesman. King Abdullah had genuine warmth and affection for India and our people, was personally committed to improving bilateral ties," he added. Earlier in day Prime Minister Modi had also condoled the death of King Abdullah and said, "In King Abdullah, we have lost an important voice who left a lasting impact on his country. I condole his demise. Our thoughts are with the people of Saudi Arabia, who have lost a guiding force in King Abdullah, during this hour of grief."

Jan 23, 2015

PM Modi pays tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 118th birth anniversary

New Delhi, Jan 23 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, on his 118th birth anniversary. Prime Minister Modi took Twitter to express his gratitude to the phenomenal freedom fighter. He tweeted, "His bravery, courage and patriotic zeal inspire us. On his birth anniversary , I bow to the proud son of India, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Subhas Babu's organisation and leadership skills were exceptional. He was a phenomenal personality, for whom good of the Nation was paramount," he added.

Jan 23, 2015

Never asked for votes for myself but for party, will work to develop Delhi: Kiran Bedi

New Delhi, Jan 23 (ANI): While addressing party workers in Krishna Nagar, BJP's chief ministerial candidate for Delhi, Kiran Bedi on Thursday said that she had never asked for votes for herself but for the party. Bedi said that the BJP is the umbrella and the party leaders are just offshoots under the same. She also assured the people that she will continue to work for the development of Delhi. She said that in order to develop India, the national capital needs to evolve first.

Jan 23, 2015

Pakistan arrests 38 Indian fishermen for violating its waters

Karachi, Jan 23 (ANI): Pakistan maritime authorities arrested thirty eight Indian fishermen and took into custody their seven boats for illegal fishing in the country's territorial waters, police said. The fishermen, who were arrested on Wednesday, had been handed over to Docks Police Station in the port city of Karachi on Thursday for necessary legal action. The arrested fishermen have been charged under Foreign Act and Fisheries Act. Police will present them before a magistrate on Friday, who will send them to jail. The South Asian rivals frequently arrest each other's fishermen for encroachment. Fishermen from both the countries frequently stray into each other territory and end up spending years in their jails.

Jan 23, 2015

Court extends police custody of Beant Singh's assassin

Patiala, Jan 23 (ANI): A local court in Patiala city extended police custody of assassin of former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh. On January 06, Thai police arrested Gurmeet Singh, also known as Jagtar Singh Tara, a former member of the Babbar Khalsa International Sikh separatist group, convicted of involvement in a bomb attack in India two decades ago that killed 18 people, including Beant Singh. Tara's lawyer Baljinder Sodhi critcised the court's decision. Meanwhile, President of Shiromani Akali Dal, Simranjit Singh Mann and his party members protested against the extended police remand and shouted slogans outside the court premises. Tara was jailed for life in 2007 for his involvement in the 1995 attack outside a government complex in Chandigarh city.

Jan 23, 2015

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies, Salman to take over charge

Saudi Arabia, Jan 23 (ANI): Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah died early on Friday at the age of 90, state television reported. According to a Royal Court statement carried on the Saudi Press Agency, Abdullah's successor was announced as 79 year old half brother, Prince Salman. Salman was Abdullah's crown prince and had recently taken on some of the ailing king's responsibilities. In late December, Abdullah was admitted to the hospital for medical tests. He had appeared during 2014 in a wheelchair and with an oxygen tube. King Salman has named his half brother Muqrin as his crown prince and heir. "His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1 a.m. this morning," said the statement.

Jan 23, 2015